Chevrolet has attained its goal of putting on the market a completely redesigned truck and SUV line-up within 24 months. The newest and highly anticipated redesign is that of the Suburban a superstar in the world of SUVs and even earning its own star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

Following the Silverado and Silverado HD, the redesigned 2021 Suburban along with 2021 Tahoe will go on sale in mid-2020.  But will the new Suburban be able to rise above its history of recalls and low reliability ratings? Will the new Chevy Suburban be reliable?

Key redesigned elements for 2021

Tim Herrick, vice president for global product programs explains to Chevrolet Pressroom, “We transformed…Suburban to offer all new technologies and features and deliver a better driving experience, while staying true to the versatility and capability that have earned people’s trust for generations.”

The redesigned Suburban starts with an all-new chassis featuring a longer wheelbase and independent rear suspension. This will provide a smoother ride and improved handling. Because of the 4.1 inch increase in the wheelbase, the new Suburban can boast the most cargo space of any SUV on the market with a 19% increase in cargo volume with only a negligible 1% increase in overall length.

Powered by a V8 that is the most advanced engine Chevy has to offer, there is also the Duramax turbo-diesel engine, an exception in the world of full-size SUVs. Made of highly durable materials, the Duramax’s critical components are able to deliver better heat resistance and reduced expansion. 

Will the Suburban be reliable? 

What about reliability? A long list of revamps is impressive but no replacement for dependability. As it’s a little too early to tell for the 2021 model we can get an idea of its performance by looking at its cousin the 2020 Silverado since the new Suburban’s redesigned suspension and engine are based on the 2020 Silverado.

According to Consumer Reports, the redesigned Silverado 1500 is expected to be pretty unreliable. It’s predicted to get a 1/5 reliability rating. Looking a little more closely at the data, though, we’re not sure why Consumer Reports is so skeptical. Sure, there have been two recalls, but the 2019 Silverado, the latest model with available info, only has below-average reliability in the category of in-car electronics.

MotorTrend gives the pros and cons of the 2020 Silverado, and it seems that the cons list is dominated by the aesthetics, things such as uncomfortable seats, uninspired interior, and a low-quality backup camera. The pros, on the other hand, are more substantial and relevant such as impressive powertrain, responsive steering, and an impressive tow rating. MT explains, “If the key criteria are how the truck accelerates, sounds, shifts and tows, you can’t go wrong with the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a gas or diesel engine and automatic transmissions smartly tuned to take advantage of the torque.”

Taking the praiseworthy powertrain, steering and towing of the Silverado into consideration, this is how the 2021 Suburban stacks up according to Consumer Reports. 

Powertrain, choice of three engines

• 5.3L V8, 10-speed automatic, 335 hp, 383 lb-ft of torque
• 6.2L V8, 10-speed automatic, 420 hp, 460 lb-ft of torque
• Turbo 3.0L inline-6 diesel, 10-speed automatic, 277 hp, 460 lb-ft of torque

Chassis 

Independent rear suspension rather than a live axle delivers a more comfortable ride and improved handling notes Autoblog. The body on frame chassis is made out of steel, not aluminum. 

Towing

Predicted by Consumer Reports to deliver the “highest fuel economy ratings in a segment”, the diesel is also extremely suited for towing. With 460 lb-ft of torque, it achieves its muscle at a low 1500 rpm and able to pull a large trailer from a standstill. An app registers a log of multiple trailing profiles allowing you to monitor tire pressure and temperature. 

Considering that you get more interior and cargo space than ever before with upscale cabin design and the latest tech, we understand anyone taking the chance on the redesigned Suburban. That said, especially considering it’s the first year of production, we’re not sure we can make a recommendation either way on the new Suburban’s reliability.